Victoria’s Secret Shanghai show – the Angels, the controversies, the fall and the US$2 million Fantasy Bra

Looking like a young Mick Jagger, Harry Styles shook and swayed his way across the Victoria’s Secret stage as the famous Angels sauntered in extravagant, barely-there costumes at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai.

Toned, tanned and sylphlike, the Victoria’s Secret Angels in Shanghai were a mix of regulars including Adriana Lima, Bella Hadid, Cindy Bruna, Stella Maxwell and Chinese models Liu Wen and Sui He as well as newcomers like Gizele Oliveira and Samile Bermannelli.

Karlie Kloss made a triumphant return to the catwalk, whilst Hadid (without fellow supermodel sister Gigi) donned a saucy black lace bra and panties and a plume of bright blue feathers – and this is the year that Hadid officially gets her Angel wings (a VS model’s status runs from regular model who has to audition each time to official Angels who don’t).

A buxom, toned Candice Swanepoel made a glorious return to the catwalk after the birth of her first child a year ago. South American beauties and Victoria’s Secret favourites Alessandra Ambrosio and Lima shook a tail feather (quite literally in those outfits), delighting screaming fans.

Katy Perry was supposed to be performing, but was reportedly denied a visa. So it was up to Harry Styles, along with American singers Miguel and Leslie Odom Jnr, Chinese pop star Jane Zhang (often dubbed China’s Britney Spears) and pianist Li Yundi, to get the crowds moving.

In Shanghai, group cheers could be heard from backstage as the Angels slipped out of their silky robes and into their incredible carnivalesque outfits for what is dubbed “the biggest fashion show on earth” – with more than 800 million watching the TV special. The spectacular started in 1995 and has been filmed in New York City, Miami, Paris, London and now Shanghai.